South Africa beat Pakistan in third ODI

CENTURION: Imam-ul-Haq hit a century -- and delivered a message to his critics -- but could not prevent South Africa from winning a rain-hit third one-day international at SuperSport Park on Friday.

Imam´s 101 spurred Pakistan to an imposing 317 for six but South Africa won by 13 runs according to the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method after rain twice stopped play during their reply.

When the second interruption brought the match to an end, South Africa were 187 for two after 33 overs, ahead of the DLS par of 174, with Reeza Hendricks and captain Faf du Plessis unbeaten on 83 and 40 respectively.

The left-handed Imam shared partnerships of 132 for the second wicket with Babar Azam (69) and 84 for the third wicket with Mohammad Hafeez (52).

Imad Wasim finished the innings with a flourish with an unbeaten 43 off 23 balls, putting on 52 off 31 balls with Shoaib Malik (31) for the fifth wicket.

South Africa had a poor day in the field, dropping five catches, including lives to all five of the Pakistan top scorers.

There were 12 wides in the innings as South Africa needed more than 20 minutes more than the allotted time to bowl their 50 overs.

Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla gave South Africa a brisk start, putting on 53 for the first wicket. With a thunderstorm approaching, both were dismissed before the first rain delay at 88 for two after 16.5 overs.

Play resumed after a 55-minute break with the target remaining 318 in 50 overs.

Man of the match Hendricks and Du Plessis batted aggressively while the Pakistan bowlers and fielders struggled in damp conditions. More rain started to fall and eventually caused the match to be abandoned.

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed said he believed Pakistan had made a "good score".

However, he refused to use the rain as an excuse for what he said was a disappointing bowling performance.

"They (South Africa) played very well," he said.

LIVE: South Africa 187/2 in 33 overs (Pak 317/6 in 50 overs)

Rain again and the covers come on once again

At the end of over 33: South Africa 187/2

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

Imad Wasim to du Plessis, 1 run

Imad Wasim to du Plessis, no run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

At the end of over 32: South Africa 185/2

Mohammad Amir to du Plessis, no run

Mohammad Amir to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Mohammad Amir to du Plessis, 1 run

Mohammad Amir to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Mohammad Amir to RR Hendricks, no run

Mohammad Amir to RR Hendricks, no run

At the end of over 31: South Africa 182/2

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, no run

Hasan Ali to du Plessis, 1 run

Hasan Ali to du Plessis, 2 runs

Hasan Ali to du Plessis, no run

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, 1 run

At the end of over 30: South Africa 177/2

Mohammad Amir to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Mohammad Amir to RR Hendricks, no run

Mohammad Amir to RR Hendricks, no run

Mohammad Amir to RR Hendricks, no run

Mohammad Amir to RR Hendricks, 4 runs

Mohammad Amir to RR Hendricks, no run

At the end of over 29: South Africa 172/2

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Hasan Ali to du Plessis, 1 run

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Hasan Ali to du Plessis, 1 run

Hasan Ali to du Plessis, no run

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, 1 run

At the end of over 28: South Africa 167/2

Mohammad Amir to du Plessis, no run

Mohammad Amir to du Plessis, no run

Mohammad Amir to du Plessis, 4 runs

Mohammad Amir to du Plessis, 4 runs

Mohammad Amir to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Mohammad Amir to RR Hendricks, no run

At the end of over 27: South Africa 158/2

Shaheen Shah Afridi to du Plessis, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to du Plessis, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to du Plessis, 4 runs

Shaheen Shah Afridi to du Plessis, 1 wide

Shaheen Shah Afridi to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to RR Hendricks, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to du Plessis, 1 run

At the end of over 26: South Africa 151/2

Shadab Khan to du Plessis, 1 run

Shadab Khan to du Plessis, no run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 2 runs

Shadab Khan to du Plessis, 1 run

Shadab Khan to du Plessis, 6 runs

At the end of over 25: South Africa 140/2

Shaheen Shah Afridi to RR Hendricks, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to RR Hendricks, 2 runs

Shaheen Shah Afridi to RR Hendricks, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to RR Hendricks, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to RR Hendricks, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to RR Hendricks, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to RR Hendricks, 1 wide

Shaheen Shah Afridi to du Plessis, 1 run

At the end of over 24: South Africa 136/2

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, no run

Shadab Khan to du Plessis, 1 run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 6 runs

Shadab Khan to du Plessis, 1 run,

Shadab Khan to du Plessis, no run,

At the end of over 23: South Africa 127/2

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, no run

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, 4 runs

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, no run

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, 4 runs

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, no run

Imad Wasim to du Plessis, 1 run

At the end of over 22: South Africa 118/2

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, 4 runs,

Imad Wasim to du Plessis, 1 run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Imad Wasim to du Plessis, 1 run

Imad Wasim to du Plessis, no run

At the end of over 21: South Africa 111/2

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, no run

Hasan Ali to du Plessis, 1 run

Hasan Ali to du Plessis, no run

Hasan Ali to du Plessis, no run

Hasan Ali to du Plessis, no run

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, 1 run

At the end of over 20: South Africa 109/2

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, no run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, no run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 6 runs

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, no run

Shadab Khan to du Plessis, 1 run

At the end of over 19: South Africa 101/2

Imad Wasim to du Plessis, 1 run

Imad Wasim to du Plessis, no run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, 4 runs

Imad Wasim to du Plessis, 1 run

At the end of over 18: South Africa 94/2

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 4 runs

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, no run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, no run

Shadab Khan to du Plessis, 1 run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, no run

At the end of over 17: South Africa 88/2

Imad Wasim to du Plessis, no run

South Africa will be chasing a revised target: 141 in 20 overs, 224 in 30 overs, 253 in 35 overs, 278 in 40 overs, 299 in 45 overs.

Play resumed

Rain stopped play during the third one-day international between South Africa and Pakistan at SuperSport Park on Friday.

The interruption came after 16.5 overs of South Africa´s innings as the home side chased down a 318-run target.

A minimum of 20 overs a side is necessary for a result.

Scores in brief:

Pakistan 317-6 in 50 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 101, Babar Azam 69, Mohammad Hafeez 52) v South Africa 88-2 in 16.5 overs (Q. de Kock 33).

South Africa 88/2 (16.5 overs)

Rain begins and the covers come on

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, 2 runs

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no runs

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks,  no runs

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, 4 runs

At the end of over 16: South Africa 81/2

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, no run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, no run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, no run

Shadab Khan to du Plessis, 1 run

Shadab Khan to du Plessis, no run

At the end of over 15: South Africa 79/2

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, OUT (Q de Kock run out (Shadab Khan) 33)

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, 2 runs

At the end of over 14: South Africa 77/1

Shadab Khan to de Kock, no run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 2 runs

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 4 runs

Shadab Khan to de Kock, 2 wides

Shadab Khan to de Kock, no run

Shadab Khan to RR Hendricks, 1 run

At the end of over 13: South Africa 67/1

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

Imad Wasim to de Kock, 1 run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, 1 run,

At the end of over 12: South Africa 64/1

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Hasan Ali to de Kock, 1 run

Hasan Ali to de Kock, no run

Hasan Ali to de Kock, no run

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, no run

At the end of over 11: South Africa 61/1

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Imad Wasim to de Kock, 1 run

Imad Wasim to de Kock, no run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

Imad Wasim to RR Hendricks, no run

At the end of over 10: South Africa 58/1

Hasan Ali to de Kock, 4 runs

Hasan Ali to de Kock, no run

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, 1 run

Hasan Ali to RR Hendricks, no run

Hasan Ali to Amla, OUT (c Babar Azam b Hasan Ali 25)

Hasan Ali to Amla, 4 runs

At the end of over 9: South Africa 49/0

Imad Wasim to de Kock, no run

Imad Wasim to Amla, 1 run

Imad Wasim to de Kock, 1 run

Imad Wasim to Amla, 1 run

Imad Wasim to Amla, no run

Imad Wasim to Amla, no run

At the end of over 8: South Africa 46/0

Shaheen Shah Afridi to de Kock, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to de Kock, 1 wide

Shaheen Shah Afridi to de Kock, 4 runs

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, 1 runs

Shaheen Shah Afridi to de Kock, 1 run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to de Kock, 2 runs

Shaheen Shah Afridi to de Kock, no run

At the end of over 7: South Africa 37/0

Mohammad Amir to Amla, no run

Mohammad Amir to Amla, no run

Mohammad Amir to Amla, no run

Mohammad Amir to Amla, no run

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, 1 run

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, no run

At the end of over 6: South Africa 36/0

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, 4 runs

Shaheen Shah Afridi to de Kock, 1 run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to de Kock, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, 1 run

At the end of over 5: South Africa 30/0

Mohammad Amir to Amla, 1 run

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, 1 run

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, no run

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, 2 runs

Mohammad Amir to Amla, 1 run

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, 1 leg bye

At the end of over 4: South Africa 24/0

Shaheen Shah Afridi to de Kock, 1 run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to de Kock, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, 1 run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, 2 runs

Shaheen Shah Afridi to de Kock, 1 run

At the end of over 3: South Africa 19/0

Mohammad Amir to Amla, 2 runs

Mohammad Amir to Amla, no run

Mohammad Amir to Amla, no run

Mohammad Amir to Amla, no run

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, 1 run

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, 4 runs

At the end of over 2: South Africa 12/0

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, 4 runs

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, 2 runs

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, no run

 Shaheen Shah Afridi to Amla, no run

At the end of over 1: South Africa 6/0

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, 2 runs

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, 4 runs

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, no run

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, no run

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, no run

Mohammad Amir to de Kock, no run

At the end of over 47: 296/4

Steyn to Imad Wasim, 4 runs

Steyn to Imad Wasim, 4 runs

Steyn to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

Steyn to Imad Wasim, 1 runs

Steyn to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

Steyn to Shoaib Malik, 4 runs

At the end of over 46: 281/4

Phehlukwayo to Imad Wasim, 4 runs

Phehlukwayo to Imad Wasim, 4 runs

Phehlukwayo to Imad Wasim, 2 runs

Phehlukwayo to Imad Wasim, 4 runs

Phehlukwayo to Imad Wasim, no run

Phehlukwayo to Imad Wasim, 4 runs

At the end of over 45: 267/4

Shamsi to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

Shamsi to Shoaib Malik, 2 wides

Shamsi to Imad Wasim, 1 run

Shamsi to Imad Wasim, 2 runs

Shamsi to Imad Wasim, 4 runs

Shamsi to Imad Wasim, no run,

Shamsi to Shoaib Malik, 1 run,

At the end of over 44: 256/4

Phehlukwayo to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

Phehlukwayo to Imad Wasim, 1 run

Phehlukwayo to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

Phehlukwayo to Imad Wasim, 1 run

Phehlukwayo to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

Phehlukwayo to Imad Wasim, 1 run

At the end of over 43: 250/4

Shamsi to Shoaib Malik, OUT (c van der Dussen b Shamsi 101)

Shamsi to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

Shamsi to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Shamsi to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

Shamsi to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Shamsi to Imam-ul-Haq, 4 run

At the end of over 42: 242/3

Phehlukwayo to Shoaib Malik, no run

Phehlukwayo to Shoaib Malik, 2 runs

Phehlukwayo to Shoaib Malik, 4 runs

Phehlukwayo to Shoaib Malik, no run

Phehlukwayo to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Phehlukwayo to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

At the end of over 41: 234/3

Tabraiz Shamsi to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

Tabraiz Shamsi to Shoaib Malik, 2 runs

Tabraiz Shamsi to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Tabraiz Shamsi to Imam-ul-Haq, 2 runs

Tabraiz Shamsi to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

Tabraiz Shamsi to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

At the end of over 40: 226/3

BE Hendricks to Shoaib Malik, no run

BE Hendricks to Shoaib Malik, no run

BE Hendricks to Shoaib Malik, 1 wide

BE Hendricks to Shoaib Malik, no run

BE Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, 2 run

BE Hendricks to Shoaib Malik, 1 run

BE Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

At the end of over 39: 222/3

Rabada to Shoaib Malik, 2 runs

Rabada to Mohammad Hafeez, OUT (c Phehlukwayo b Rabada 52)

Rabada to Mohammad Hafeez, 4 runs

Rabada to Mohammad Hafeez, no run

Rabada to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Rabada to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run

At the end of over 38: 214/2

BE Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

BE Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

BE Hendricks to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run

BE Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

BE Hendricks to Hafeez, 1 run

BE Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

At the end of over 37: 210/2

Rabada to Imam-ul-Haq,no run

Rabada to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Rabada to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run

Rabada to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Rabada to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Rabada to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run

At the end of over 36: 206/2

RR Hendricks to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run

RR Hendricks to Mohammad Hafeez, 4 runs

RR Hendricks to Mohammad Hafeez, 6 runs

RR Hendricks to Mohammad Hafeez, no run

RR Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

RR Hendricks to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run

At the end of over 35: 193/2

Rabada to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run

Rabada to Mohammad Hafeez, no run

Rabada to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Rabada to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run

Rabada to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Rabada to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run

At the end of over 34: 188/2

RR Hendricks to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run

RR Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

RR Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, 4 runs

RR Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

RR Hendricks to Hafeez, 1 run

RR Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

At the end of over 33: 180/2

Phehlukwayo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run

Phehlukwayo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run

Phehlukwayo to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Phehlukwayo to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run

Phehlukwayo to Mohammad Hafeez, 4 runs

Phehlukwayo to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 wide

Phehlukwayo to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

At the end of over 32: 172/2

BE Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

BE Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

BE Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, 2 runs

BE Hendricks to Hafeez, 1 run

BE Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

BE Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, 2 runs

At the end of over 31: 165/2

Phehlukwayo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run

Phehlukwayo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run

Phehlukwayo to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Phehlukwayo to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run

Phehlukwayo to Mohammad Hafeez, 2 runs

Phehlukwayo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run

At the end of over 30: 161/2

BE Hendricks to Hafeez, 1 run

BE Hendricks to Hafeez, no run

BE Hendricks to Hafeez, 2 runs

BE Hendricks to Hafeez, no run

BE Hendricks to Hafeez, 1 wide

BE Hendricks to Hafeez, 4 runs

BE Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

At the end of over 29: 152/2

Steyn to Mohammad Hafeez, no run

Steyn to Mohammad Hafeez, no run

Steyn to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Steyn to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run

Steyn to Mohammad Hafeez, no run

Steyn to Mohammad Hafeez, no run

At the end of over 28: 150/2

Tabraiz Shamsi to Hafeez, 1 run

Tabraiz Shamsi to Hafeez, 4 runs

Tabraiz Shamsi to Hafeez, 4 runs

Tabraiz Shamsi to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Tabraiz Shamsi to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Tabraiz Shamsi to Imam-ul-Haq, 4 runs

At the end of over 27: 136/2

Steyn to Hafeez, no run

Steyn to Hafeez, no run

Steyn to Babar Azam, OUT (lbw b Steyn 69)

Steyn to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Steyn to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Steyn to Imam-ul-Haq, 4 runs

At the end of over 26: 131/1

Tabraiz Shamsi to Babar Azam, 4 runs

Tabraiz Shamsi to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 run

Tabraiz Shamsi to Imam-ul-Haq, 2 runs

Tabraiz Shamsi to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Tabraiz Shamsi to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Tabraiz Shamsi to Babar Azam, 1 run

At the end of over 25: 123/1

Steyn to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Steyn to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Steyn to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Steyn to Imam-ul-Haq, 4 runs

Steyn to Imam-ul-Haq, 1 wide

Steyn to Babar Azam, 1 run

Dayle Steyn bowls to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Dayle Steyn bowls to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Dayle Steyn bowls to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run

Dayle Steyn bowls to Fakhar Zaman, no run

Dayle Steyn bowls to Fakhar Zaman, no run

Dayle Steyn bowls to Fakhar Zaman, no run

At the end of over 2: 3/0

BE Hendricks to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

BE Hendricks to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run

BE Hendricks to Fakhar Zaman, no run

BE Hendricks to Fakhar Zaman, no run

BE Hendricks to Fakhar Zaman, no run

BE Hendricks to Fakhar Zaman, no run

At the end of over 1: 2/0

Dayle Steyn bowls to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Dayle Steyn bowls to Imam-ul-Haq, 2 runs

Dayle Steyn bowls to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Dayle Steyn bowls to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Dayle Steyn bowls to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

Dayle Steyn bowls to Imam-ul-Haq, no run

CENTURION: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first in the third ODI against South Africa in Centurion today.

Pakistan made two changes with Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir coming back into the side, while South Africa made three changes in the playing XI.

The row over Sarfraz Ahmed’s ‘racist’ comments will be on the visitors' mind when they take on the Proteas today at Supersport Park.

The five-match series is currently tied with both teams wining one match each.

Both teams put in a solid batting performance in the first ODI in Port Elizabeth. Both then suffered top-order failures in the second game in Durban. Pakistan won the first game, and South Africa settled scores in the second.

It's fair to say that the contest so far has been evenly contested, with the chasing side winning by five wickets on both occasions. Come the third of five ODIs, in Centurion, both teams will desperately want to pull ahead.

“The hosts need to sort out a few things with the batting. In Port Elizabeth, Hashim Amla scored a fine unbeaten century and Rassie van der Dussen made 93, but despite the solid platform laid, they were able to post only 266/2 – a total that proved very inadequate. Their inability to accelerate cost them that game,” the ICC stated in match preview.

“Then in the second game, chasing a modest 204, they slipped to 80/5, and it took a record sixth-wicket stand between the impressive van der Dussen and Andile Phehlukwayo to get them over the line, rather comfortably in the end.”

South Africa are searching for that fine balance between caution and calculated aggression, and that'll be key at the Centurion.

“Pakistan's bowling has been pretty disciplined in both games and they didn't waver in the first game even as Amla and van der Dussen batted solidly. Shaheen Afridi gave further evidence of his quality in the second game, picking three wickets. And Shadab Khan's wrist-spin has troubled South Africa considerably.”

“That said, Imran Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi, South Africa's primary spinners, have stood out with excellent performances as well. South Africa's quicks were unable to do much damage in the opening game but came roaring back in Durban, with Rabada taking 2/35 and Phehlukwayo starring with 4/22.”

Dale Steyn will be back in the squad for remaining three ODIs, and will look to make some inroads, as will the uncapped Beuran Hendricks.

Pakistan's batsmen need to find ways to better counter them. Fakhar Zaman has got starts in two games, but has been unable to carry on for big scores. Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez starred in the first ODI, but failed in the second.

In Durban, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Hasan Ali had to stitch together a 90-run stand for the ninth wicket to take Pakistan past 200. It's the year of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and Pakistan will want to be more consistent with the bat.

Squads

South Africa: Faf du Plessis(captain), Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Beuran Hendricks, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Dale Steyn

Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed(captain), Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Shoaib Malik, Usman Khan